NYE regular thursday training ride

Three tools braved the humid conditions and threatening skies that awaited this particular Thursday evening, prepared to do a little hard work to prepare for the rapidly approaching festivities.
A very easy pace thru town belied what was to come. Despite discussions on whose fault it was, a pace of 40+ ks was maintained across the flat, followed by a not unrespectable first ascent. The hill climb awaited with all claiming that there best work had been done already, but despite these claims rapide again impressed with a sub 6, la feuille a pb of 6:20, and maybe metre vos sac wasn't kidding with a respectable but slightly shy of his best 7 something.

There was a false start on the bridge sprint, with your correspondent claiming an uncontested victory on the wrong bridge!! Followed by another victory of 3 cm on the correct bridge. Good fun and a good workout for all tools that made it.

Dirty tools training ride

Tuesday saw the dirty tools sub group take to the tracks of Tathra for a bit of a practice ride on the poo pond, and fire shed tracks. Tools present were the bandit, van velo, rapide and la feuille. Two others came along also, junior tool henry and Sol. A familiar refrain from the bandit of this will just be a nice quiet little practic ride was soon put to bed as a fairly brisk pace was set up the poo pond track. Rapide enjoyed the brisk pace especially when he managed to stay on the track and fit his wide handle bars thru the narrow gaps in the trees.

We regrouped at the fireshed to attack that track with renewed gusto. This part of the ride featuring a brief rest as la feuille fixed his tyre and rapide especially enjoying the two unannounced drop offs and the 90 degree turn in between. We returned to the starting point after a good little work out, and no one ate any dirt.

Sea to Summit Summer Solstice

Who else but our sadistic Tools on Tour member Dominique would even think about riding from Tathra at sea level to the highest point in Australia in one day.

Half of the "Tools" took up the challenge Dominique, Andy, Rob & Mark were joined by now associate "Tool" Elton Ivers,  all gathered at the beach in the darkness to ready themselves for the 5.15am start. Spirits were high as the group pushed out of Tathra to warm the legs up on the way to Bega.

It was great meet up with fellow "Tool" Dave Mullens on the way to Bega, unable to join us for the whole journey but at least he provided some encouragement by riding out to the Cooma turnoff with us.

It was an easy pace to Bemboka and then on to the first challenge for the day, Brown Mountain, 800m up over 10kms is always tough and today was no different. Dom and Elton made good time up the mountain, followed by Andy and Rob. Mark got to the top declaring "that was F@#&ing agony". It was then onwards and upwards to the first offical stop for coffee and food - Nimmitabel.

My excitment in looking forward to what is usually the easy section of the ride between Nimmitabel to Cooma was soon well and truly quashed with the arrival of a strong headwind and being dropped off the back of the group. The headwind made for very tough going all the way to Jindabyne, where we would normally be riding along at 25-40km/h, instead we were struglling against the wind at 15-20km/h. Not only tough physically but even more so mentally.

We all made it to the next official stop, Jindabyne, albiet with much less spirit and energy than earlier in the day. It was at this stage that we were all considering why the hell we were doing this to ourselves, the combination of the headwind, the climbing, the time in the saddle and having to continually eat was starting to take its toll on all.

193 tough kms down and after much soul searching it was back on the road for the final 40kms up the big hill, at least the wind had dropped by this time unfortunately this was countered by the fact the road started going upwards rapidly.

Unfortunately I had to concede defeat 28kms short at Sawpit Creek, feeling unwell and exhausted I decided it had been a big enough effort and did not see the point in doing damage to myself. I was very happy to see our trustly support person, Heather, who had done a fantastic job all day, it was in the trailer for my bike and in the car for me. Mark battled on for a bit longer before he too took the smark option and joined me in the car.

That left 3, Dom, Rob & Elton - these guys did an amazing job to keep going up the relentless and sometimes what seemed like endless hills, they fought fatigue, cramps and nausea to keep going, digging deeper than ever before.

There was some relief after Perisher where the road finally lessened in grade until the final rise to Charlottes Pass, Elton seemed to get a second wind and was seemingly cruising up the front but with the end in sight Dominique couldn't help himself and dug in even deeper for a final effort to bridge the gap between him and Elton over the last couple of hundred metres to catch Elton at the top, Rob arrived not long after declaring "bloody hell that got emotional at times".

By this time it was 8.30pm and unbelievably everyone decided to swap the road bike for the Mountain Bike to do the last bit on the dirt, so the lights were strapped on, shoes changed and jackets put on and it was off towards the highest point in Australia. We didn't make it right to the top this time but all has vowed to doing it all again next year and make it to the top hopefully with better conditions and some changes in plan.

It was getting close to 10pm by the time we loaded the bikes and departed from Charlottes Pass so it had been a big day.

Well done everyone, bloody great effort!!!

Thanks go to Heather for a big effort by supporting us all day and also to Jo Rideaux for driving up with the trailer full of Mountain Bikes.

An early morning training ride.

A lone cyclist set off from Bega in the direction towards Tathra this fine morning. Whilst pedalling serenely along he saw in the distance, the silhouette of two then three more cyclists rise over the crest of the next hill with the morning sky as a backdrop. His heart beat just a little faster as he realised he had just sighted that rare species of incredibly hardy cyclists that appear only at the time of the solstice, that rise from the sea phoenix like and head towards the highest point they can find. That's right the summer solstice sea to summitters.

The lone cyclist felt privileged to travel in their midst for a short time, observing the steely determination on the visage of all, and the slight hint of perspiration on their brow of this most hardy breed of cyclist. He climbed with them up the Bega lookout until the Cooma Turnoff before realising his toast was getting cold and his cup of tea awaited. Reluctantly he turned off bidding this brave band adieu, wishing them well as they doggedly pursued their ultimate goal of the highest point in the land.

"Dirty Tools - tour de forest"

Three dirty tools avec mtb made it to the starting point on a fine but overcast morning for a different challenge to normal. your correspondant, le jardinier and le bandit(out of hibernation) set off for the hills at a respectable pace. Now there was a late withdrawal (you know who you are Monsieur Rapide) who pulled out siting some techno-babble about crank widths and unfamiliar equipment and the challenges that await in the ssss.

As you'd expect le bandit set a good pace up mont medecin george, that soon got the heart rate up. a few sweeping descents and the coast was in site. making it to tathra we found heather cycling along but she'd forgotten her mtb so she wasn't able to enjoy the delights of the forest like the three dirty tools. Le jardinier enjoyed a restorative café noir, while the other two tools hit the poo pond track, with the bandit displaying what he has been doing during his hibernation and showing a clean pair of heels. we regrouped at the fire shed for another burst of single track.

the exhilatating descent down the fire trail followed to the beautiful clear waters of Games bay. We all then enjoyed the meandering bush track emerging near wallagoot lake and a short repás at wine glass bay.

From here we traversed some pleasant bush and farmland avoiding as many sealed roads as possible on the return run to bega. A coffee well deserved for all after about 4 hours in the saddle and a pretty good tempo sustained through out.

Saturday 19 December

An easy roll on the Candelo loop; Heather, Andy and me. Andy and I practiced maintaining a steady pace and holding about 20k average to see what it was like. Did 22.7 and it was very relaxing; could have gone all day. Great weather and one of the best loops out of Bega. Must do more often.

Thursday 17 December

A very unfriendly scene confronted the starters on our regular ride. Blowing a gale and it had just been 40 degrees half an hour before kick off. Andy, Mark, me and a late ring-in with Arch making his return to the peloton. The temp dropped as did the wind and it turned out a pleasant ride despite the deep digs. Arch had come just for the hill climb; he started from nth Bega and never joined our train across the flat. No sign at the second bridge or at the top of the climbs where we waited. ???

Back to the hill climb where we found Arch and had a go at the hill. Mr Garmin forgot(or some such thing) how to do a lap time but looked like he did a good time. PBs for Mark (6.49) and me (5.26)possibly a bit of wind assist but we are taking them anyway. Arch did what Arch does. Didn't time it or finish at the end so hard to tell but I would guess low 6s. Lucky he doesn't what to play like the rest of us because he is such a strong rider.

Mark took the bridge sprint in one of the best shows yet. Arch had left us by now and Andy attacked hard and long from the start. Mark and I paced ourselves to catch him but it was getting close. The catch was at about 50mtrs and Mark came around with about 15mtrs to go to take it by about a half wheel. Thrilling stuff.

Thursday night has morphed from it's early days but continues to be a challenge and great fun.